asterina starfish, washing sand

thereeftank · 03/30/2011, 05:57 AM

I bought a used system for the tank and decided to reuse the sand, about 100#. I washed it with a several hundred gallons of tapwater, until water was clear, seemed everything washed out. It sat outside (night temps in high 30s-40) for about 2 weeks. I dried it somewhat, wasn't 100% dry, but damp.

My question is now that the system is up and running, I found two starfish what look like asterina. Is it possible they survived? The guy who I bought the setup from had these things in his tank. Told me they were baby sand shifting starfish. (is that possible? how do sand shifting starfish reproduce?) I thought everything would die and get washed out by the hundreds of gallons I washed the sand with, the no salt and cold temperature. I haven't added anything else new to the system.

ludiNano · 03/30/2011, 07:35 AM

You havnt added any rock?

There definetly not sand sifting stars. I've seen then eat coraline algae and always questioned if they were negatively affecting my Sps.

I would remove them anytime u see them. And after awhile if u look real close u will see tons. I let it get pretty bad in my nano and pulled out 30 a day for a week and half before I started to see a decline.

I believe the reproduce by splitting.

Good luck

frankpayne32 · 03/30/2011, 10:08 AM

There are some asterina's that can be predatory but most species seem to be beneficial detritovores/herbivores.

Uncle Salty 05 · 03/30/2011, 10:12 AM

I don't think any marine organism could have survived all of that chlorine and cold temperatures.
It most likely was on a rock or other addition.

03/30/2011, 05:57 AM	#1
thereeftank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 180	asterina starfish, washing sand I bought a used system for the tank and decided to reuse the sand, about 100#. I washed it with a several hundred gallons of tapwater, until water was clear, seemed everything washed out. It sat outside (night temps in high 30s-40) for about 2 weeks. I dried it somewhat, wasn't 100% dry, but damp. My question is now that the system is up and running, I found two starfish what look like asterina. Is it possible they survived? The guy who I bought the setup from had these things in his tank. Told me they were baby sand shifting starfish. (is that possible? how do sand shifting starfish reproduce?) I thought everything would die and get washed out by the hundreds of gallons I washed the sand with, the no salt and cold temperature. I haven't added anything else new to the system.

03/30/2011, 10:08 AM	#3
frankpayne32 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,177	There are some asterina's that can be predatory but most species seem to be beneficial detritovores/herbivores. __________________ Frank Payne Advice to new hobbyists: listen to people that have a tank you would like to have one day, not to those with a high post count. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon in-wall (build thread is my homepage).

03/30/2011, 10:12 AM	#4
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	I don't think any marine organism could have survived all of that chlorine and cold temperatures. It most likely was on a rock or other addition. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

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03/30/2011, 07:35 AM	#2
ludiNano I'm becoming...Brundlefly Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bettendorf, Iowas Posts: 1,804	You havnt added any rock? There definetly not sand sifting stars. I've seen then eat coraline algae and always questioned if they were negatively affecting my Sps. I would remove them anytime u see them. And after awhile if u look real close u will see tons. I let it get pretty bad in my nano and pulled out 30 a day for a week and half before I started to see a decline. I believe the reproduce by splitting. Good luck